Project Description
Within the resplendent halls of Hampton Court Palace lies the Cumberland Art Gallery, while the gallery is renowned for housing works by masters such as Rembrandt, Holbein, and Caravaggio, the woven silk Moiré wall coverings that adorn its interior are masterpieces in their own right.
The gallery itself takes its name from Prince William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, the son of King George II. It was originally constructed in the 1730s as part of a suite of private apartments designed for the Duke. The apartments were crafted in a style that reflected the grandeur of Georgian architecture. Over the centuries, these apartments evolved, and by the 21st century, the space had been repurposed to serve as the Cumberland Art Gallery, showcasing some of the Royal Collection’s most prestigious artworks.
Since 1976, Humphries Weaving has been deeply involved in restoration projects at Hampton Court Palace, making them the natural choice for this project. The firm’s extensive experience in recreating historic fabrics ensured that the wall coverings would not only match the original design but would also contribute to the gallery’s overall atmosphere of authenticity and luxury.
The journey began 18 months prior to the gallery's reopening when Humphries Weaving commenced the painstaking process of colour matching. Using archive samples, the team worked to recreate the rich crimson and deep blue hues that once adorned the palace’s walls.
These colours, historically significant, had to be revived with absolute precision, and every silk thread was carefully processed and dyed to match. Once woven at Humphries’ Sudbury Silk Mills, the fabric underwent the intricate moiré process, an ancient technique that embosses the surface of the silk with a rippling, watermarked pattern. This method, unchanged since the reign of King William III, was applied using steam-filled rollers and immense pressure, creating a dazzling effect that makes the silk shimmer and flow like water.
Humphries Weaving is one of the last companies in the UK capable of achieving this finish, making their contribution all the more significant. The moiré fabric, with its non-repeating, undulating pattern, was then stretched across the gallery walls by skilled craftsmen. The result is a visual feast for visitors: as they move through the gallery, the walls seem to come alive, reflecting light and creating a dynamic backdrop for the art collection.
The restoration of the Cumberland Art Gallery goes beyond mere conservation—it represents a bridge between past and present, a way of preserving the heritage of one of Britain’s most important royal residences while making it accessible to contemporary audiences. The gallery, restored to its former glory, continues to serve as a cultural treasure, where art, history, and craftsmanship converge in one extraordinary space.
Project Reference: 2398 and 2399
